Chesaning Township

Chesaning History  |  Chesaning First Land Owners  |  Chesaning Legal Cases | Biographical 1  |  Biographical 2

A FRIGHTFUL MURDER.

One of the most brutal murders ever perpetrated was that of Charles Smith, of Chesaning, on the morning of Sept. 13, 1876. It brought a blush of shame into the features of man and woman, and stained the Centennial year with a crime as horrible as its cause was base. The Courier report of that murder and the trial which succeeded it was full and accurate, so that from it alone we take the following particulars of the disgraceful tragedy:

Charles Smith owned and lived on a fine 40-acre farm, the product of his own industry and frugality, situated about one and one-half miles south of the village on the Corunna road. At about two o'clock on the morning of Sept. 13, 1876, the barn belonging to his premises was discovered to be on fire, and although the neighbors were on hand very soon after the fire originated, it was impossible for them to render any efficient aid, and the building was almost totally consumed. Smith was missing, and inquiries were made concerning him. Mrs. smith said she had seen him enter the barn after the fire had gained considerable headway, and had not seen him afterward. The fire raged until it consumed all that it could reach, and after it had gone down sufficiently to admit of it, a search was made in the ruins for the body of Smith. On what was left of the barn floor the remains were found in a terribly burned condition, surrounded by a smoldering heap of straw and other debris.

Mr. Smith's family consisted of his wife, Mrs. Mary Jane Smith, Cora Rolfe, a 12-year old daughter of Mrs. Smith by a former husband, a little son aged seven years, and one aged about three, both his children by Mary Jane Smith. Visiting in his family at the time of the fire were Mrs. Julia Ann Cargin, a sister of Mrs. Smith, and her newly married husband, Freeman Cargin, residents of Katonah, Westchester Co., N. Y. The Cargins were on their wedding tour. There was a young man named Norris Alexander, who had worked on the farm at various times for Smith, but there had been difficulty between the two men and Alexander had been discharged. Alexander first went to Smith's to work when he was a lad between 14 and 15 years of age, and made his home there most of the time up to the opening of this narrative. His reputation was not of the best, and once he was sent to the House of Correction in Detroit for larceny. We introduce Alexander with the family, because he figures very prominently in their destinies, as will be seen further on.

There had been difficulties in the family, Mr. and Mrs. Smith not agreeing very well, and the peace of the husband and wife was not augmented by the presence of Cargin and his wife, although the latter were on their "honeymoon trip." Alexander, familiarly known as "Nock," a nickname for Norris, had also been heard to make remarks that showed a bitter feeling toward Smith. It seems also that young Alexander took lodgings at the Waverly House in Chesaning on the night in question. He was supposed to have been in bed all night and in the morning, but there are indications that he had been out at the window of his room during the night. Joseph Miller, a neighbor of Smith's, had seen two men come out of the house and go to the barn about 20 minutes before the fire was discovered. It appeared also that Mrs. Smith had lately made inquiry in the neighborhood if she could hold her husband's property in case of his death.

A combination of all these circumstances led the neighbors to suspect that there had been some crooked transactions. The coroner's inquest on the body resulted in a verdict indicating that the deceased came to his death by murder in his own house; that the body was conveyed thence to the barn and there burned with the building, and that suspicion pointed to Mrs. Smith, wife of the deceased, Freeman Cargin and his wife, and Norris Alexander. The parties were immediately arrested, and followed by an excited mob of the citizens of Chesaning, they were conducted to the depot and thence to Saginaw City, where they were lodged in jail.

The preliminary examination of the prisoners commenced before Justice J. W. Clark, in Saginaw City, on the afternoon of Sept. 18, Prosecuting Attorney William Gillett appearing for the People, and Wm. A. Clark for the defense. The prisoners were all in court, and the women looked quite agitated. During the course of the testimony Mrs. Cargin was attacked with a sort of spasm, the symptoms of which were quite alarming, although she came out of it all right.

A great many of the neighbors were sworn on the examination, and Wednesday, the 20th, the prisoners consented to waive further examination, preferring to take their chances in the circuit court.

THE TRIAL OF CARGIN.

On Monday, Dec. 11, the trials commenced before Judge Tennant, each to have a separate trial. Freeman Cargin was the first to be tried. Messrs. Wm. A. Clark and Wm. A. Clark, Jr., and John Hurst appeared for the defense, and Prosecuting Attorney Gillett and his partner in civil business, Lawson C. Holden, for the prosecution. There had been very much talk concerning the trial, and a great many men otherwise qualified for jurors had read the testimony on the examination, formed opinions, and consequently were ineligible. Eighty jurors were sworn in this case before 12 eligible ones could be obtained. The regular panel of 24 and 56 tales men were sworn, and at 3:10 P. M. on the 12th, both sides were satisfied with the following named gentlemen as jurors: George Jenner, J. M. Wilson, George Streeb, W. E. Smythe, John Zimmerman, Porter Stewart, W. B. Stillman, Charles Burdick, John Howell, Joseph T. Manning, Frank Benjamin, John Baar.

Interest in this case among the citizens of East Saginaw, Saginaw City and the surrounding country had been gradually working up as it became more and more clear that there was a strong case against the accused. Wednesday, Dec. 13, the court room was packed to its utmost capacity, and the stairs were crowded. Many, tired of trying to hear a word, or to get even a glimpse of the prisoners, filed away with the consolation that they would see a full' account of it in the morning papers. The reason of this augmentation of interest was the rumor that Dan P. Foote, counsel for Norris Alexander, had advised his client to plead guilty, and that, in accordance with this advice Alexander would so plead and make a full confession of the crime in all its details. This proved true, for this prisoner was brought into court in the forenoon, and pleaded guilty to the charge of murder. At 2:30 P. M. Alexander was produced in court, and being called to the stand as the People's witness, told a tale, compared with which ordinary tales of bloody murder are but cheerful Christmas stories. Mr. Clark, counsel for defense, objected, because Alexander was examined under the same charge as Cargin, and a party substantially to the record of this case, The objection was overruled, and Alexander took the stand, when he related that terrible story of murder with a nonchalance which only a communist could admire. It was proved and admitted that the murderers did their dreadful act at the house and took the dying man out to the barn, which they set on fire, probably before the poor victim was dead.

Judge Tennant sentenced the principal murderer to solitary confinement in the State's prison for life. Julia Cargin, the consort murderess, received a similar sentence. Mrs. Smith and her paramour, Norris Alexander, were also convicted of murder in the first degree. Judge Tennant, in passing sentence on the murderess, said: "Your life is forfeited to the State, yet for public policy, and that alone, your sentence will be lessened; you may live to come out of prison, and to see your children, now small and tender, grown to manhood and womanhood, but you cannot enjoy them, for they will disown you and cast you aside. What can they think of the mother that so foully slew their father?" Her sentence was a term of 15 years' imprisonment at hard labor. Owing to the fact that Alexander turned State's evidence, his punishment was reduced to 10 years at hard labor.

This brief account of a terrible tragedy is one of a number that pertains to this county and one, too, that cannot be passed over with a formal notice: therefore this reference to that band of murderers.

Chesaning History  |  Chesaning First Land Owners  |  Chesaning Legal Cases | Biographical 1  |  Biographical 2

BACK TO LIST OF TOWNSHIP HISTORY 1881

Source: History of Saginaw County Michigan, By Michael A. Leeson, Damon Clarke, Published 1881 Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Chicago pages 791-834.

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